First liquid hydrogen carrier ship launched in Japan paves the way for a clean hydrogen export industry for Australia

Liquid Hydrogen carrier ship (Source: Nikkei Asian Review)

With Australia having lots of potential for solar and wind electricity it is looking to a future of making renewable/clean hydrogen (H₂) from the electrolysis of water (H₂O). Hydrogen is a powerful energy source that can be stored, transported and used for electric cars, heavy transport, industry and even steelmaking. It will also be possible to repurpose natural gas power stations to burn clean hydrogen to make electricity (Dr Alan Finkel, Australian Chief Scientist, National Press Club Address).

The technology is now here for the safe storage of liquid hydrogen and the ability to ship it around the globe. So much so, the first liquid hydrogen carrier ship has been launched in Japan and will be used to take hydrogen from Victoria, Australia, to Japan starting in 2021. The hydrogen will be cooled to –253^oC, to reduce volume, and stored it in a vacuum-insulated, double-shelled tank. This ship is powered by diesel, but it is hoped that ships in the future will be driven by fuel cells powered by clean hydrogen. 

Although the first shipments will be carrying hydrogen made by heating water by burning coal (and capturing and storing the carbon dioxide), this ship will pave the way for more ships to carry renewable hydrogen from Australia to Japan, South Korea and possibly Europe. Other Australian businesses are looking to make hydrogen from renewable electricity, particularly solar. It is predicted that there will be near a $2 trillion market for clean hydrogen by 2050 (Dr Alan Finkel, Australian Chief Scientist, National Press Club Address).

Post script: Export of blue hydrogen project starts in Victoria. It makes hydrogen from coal and plans to capture the CO2 in empty natural gas caverns in Bass Strait. The project will not be commercialised if the carbon capture is not feasible. Hydrogen project fuels Latrobe Valley job hopes as coal plants close. The Sydney Morning Herald, March 12, 2021.

References: 

- Kawasaki Heavy launches world’s first liquid hydrogen ship in quest to establish greensupply chain. The Japan Times, December 13, 2019. 

– Launching the world’s first liquid hydrogen carrier ship. Premier of Victoria, December 12, 2019. 

– Nordic steel giant to use renewable hydrogen to produce fossil-free steel by 2026. Renew Economy, January 30, 2020. 

– Hydrogen fuel cell vessels destined for France and Norway. The Maritime Executive, February 25, 2020. 

– National Press Club Address: The orderly transition to the electric planet. Dr Alan Finkel, Australia’s Chief Scientist, Australian Government. February 12, 2020.

Electric vehicles that can tow - but at what cost?

Audi e-tron & Tesla Model X SUVs

The two EVs available now that can tow are the Tesla Model X SUV and the Audi e-tron SUV. The Tesla is rated to tow 5000 lbs (2268 kg) and the Audi e-tron 4000 lbs (1814 kg). Both have longer ranges which is needed for towing with the Tesla having a range of 325 mi (523 km) and the Audi e-tron 204 mi (328 km). N.B. The upcoming Polestar2 has a 3,300 lb (1497 kg) tow rating.

The efficiency of such towing is not great at this stage in the development of EVs. “Audi conducted its own test with the e-tron electric SUV pulling a 4000-pound trailer, which provides some interesting data about how towing affects electric cars. The e-tron went on a 504-mile trip from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Austin, Texas, stopping at 150-kilowatt fast chargers along the way. It averaged a high 769 watt-hours per mile (Wh/mi), which would make for a low driving range of around 105 miles [169 km].” (Car and Driver)

It is expected that the towing efficiency of EVs will improve with the development of pickups (utes) that will be released in the next few years. They include pickups from Ford, General Motors, and Tesla, as well as newcomers like Rivian and Bollinger.

Read more: 

- AudiE-tron tows GM EV1 500 miles: reality check about EV range. Green Car Reports, February 14, 2020. 

– Audi showshow towing affects an EV’s range – and it ain’t pretty. Car and Driver, February 13, 2020.